Pat Cash

Cash sees off Aussie rival Rafter

Published: Saturday, 5 December 2009, 12:34PM

Pat Cash produced a shock at the AEGON Masters on Friday when he beat countryman Pat Rafter 2-6, 6-2, 10-6 (Champions Tie Break) at the Royal Albert Hall in the first ever match between the two.

Despite playing for two decades between them, the 44-year-old Cash and the 36-year-old Rafter had never previously met on-court.

The match showcased all that is good about serve-and-volley tennis, with both men approaching the net at every opportunity and producing volleys of the highest quality. Cash got off to a slow start against fellow Aussie Rafter, but successfully regrouped at the end of the first set to win the next two.

“I think I got a bit lucky against Pat today,” he said. “He started so well but then he took his foot off the gas a bit. I was rushing my serve a bit in the beginning of today’s match which made me miss some. Then all of a sudden it just clicked and at almost exactly the same time Pat started missing some first serves. It just switched at the right time for me and then the next thing you know I’m on my way.”

Cash also paid tribute to his opponent.

“It was a real honour to play against Pat,” he said. “I’ve always admired his game and I’ve practiced with him a bit over the years and we’ve played a bit of doubles together. He’s still moving so well around the net, he’s fantastic and he’s part of the game we miss really.”

If Rafter is now to progress to Sunday’s final he will have to win his final round robin match against Goran Ivanisevic, the man responsible for ending his dreams of winning a Wimbledon title back in the famous final of 2001.

Ivanisevic is currently sitting above Rafter at the top of Group A after the Croatian won his match on Thursday against AEGON Masters Tennis defending champion Cedric Pioline 6-3, 7-6(3).

Ivanisevic is now focussing on his crucial match against Rafter, which is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” he said. “He wants to win and I want to win but it’s going to be a lot more fun than Wimbledon. That match in 2001 saved my life and my career, it was serious stuff.

“The courts are very fast here and when I serve like I did today I don’t think anyone can break me, only I can break myself.”

Rafter and Ivanisevic will meet at 1pm on Saturday in a match that will be screened live in the UK on ITV4.

In the evening session, Younes El Aynaoui ensured that Mark Philippoussis would leave without a victory this year. The Moroccan won a highly entertaining match 3-6, 7-5, 10-6 (Champions' Tie-Break).